applying to PhD programs with low GPA/GRE

[pointzerofive]

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Greetings

Currently I'm in a clinical psychology MA program and I will be applying to clinical PhD programs this winter. My GPA in the MA program is a 3.9, however undergraduate overall is 2.9 and psych 3.6 (last 60 hours). My GRE is sub 1k, so I'll be taking it again this summer.

I have a ton of undergraduate research experience which is most likely what got me into the MA program. I'm also on 2 research teams in the MA program and will be 3rd author on a publication by the time I graduate.

I'm looking for advice or past success stories on how to apply to PhD programs with relatively low numbers compared to the rest of the applicants. I know that I have a 3.9 masters program GPA, but I still have the 2.9 overall undergrad GPA. I'm shooting for a 1350 GRE with a lower bound of 1200.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[deleted176373]

Greetings

Currently I'm in a clinical psychology MA program and I will be applying to clinical PhD programs this winter. My GPA in the MA program is a 3.9, however undergraduate overall is 2.9 and psych 3.6 (last 60 hours). My GRE is sub 1k, so I'll be taking it again this summer.


Any advice would be appreciated.

You just have to kick the snot out of the GRE. The undergraduate GPA will probably dog you a little, but there is nothing you can do about it now except explain it. You can't change the past, so dwelling on that won't help. That was then, this is now is the best approach I can think of.

The key now is two-fold. Kill the GRE and really work on making a good match. Your undergraduate GPA may not be dismissed with your Master's GPA and a Killer GRE score but it will be better than if you do poorly on the GRE. Not much else I can think of really, maybe someone else has a better answer.

Good luck,

Mark

 

[pointzerofive]

Hey Mark

That is my plan. The first time I took it I got a 930. I lived in a frat house and they had a party the night before I took the GRE 🙄. I also didn't study for it like I should have and my score reflects that.

I'm really hoping that my masters GPA and research counter balance my low undergraduate GPA. As much as I detest the GRE (staring at the Princeton review on my desk as I type) I need to do really well on it.

My plan as of now is to compile a list of schools that are of interest and email the respective person I'd like to work with. I'm trying to decide if I should let them know that I have a low GPA at the outset of our communication or if I should let it ride.

It's a difficult thing because I feel if I don't contact the programs beforehand, they will see my low GPA and immediately throw my application out (keeping the 50 bucks) and send me a rejection letter. I'm flustered at what exactly to do here in order to state my case and make sure I get looked at.

 

[socialcog]

Mark is probably right about 'killing the GRE'. I have been told by a professor at the lab I used to work at, with a poor GPA-- committees will be concerned you may be an academic liability. The MA GPA is not necessarily a guarantee to offset the undergrad GPA....unfortunately. Not all GPAs from different universities are considered equal. The GRE will be the deal breaker for committees seeing you as an academic liability or not (sadly).

The research experience is a definite plus, however it isn't really going to quell concerns about the questionable academic performance. That is of course, you have some sick amount of 1st authored pubs.🙂

If you hit that 1350, you should be in good shape. 🙂

Good luck.

 

[pointzerofive]

Well here is a vital piece of information that I left out. Currently, I'm working on a research project that is about to be submitted to a well respected neuropsy journal. There are 4 authors: my advisor, an MD, ME, and the professor over the lab of my #1 PhD program choice.

The 4th author was the advisor of my current advisor. Go figure that! So I'm definately matching research interests. My thesis is also consistent with the research interests of the professor I wish to work with. I don't want to put all of my eggs into one basket, but this is definately a school that I'm counting on.